Bad to Be Merry E-Book

Andrew Grey

• Herausgeber: Dreamspinner Press
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2021

Beschreibung

Former mobster Richard Marsden grew up scrounging on the streets of Detroit. This Christmas, for the first time, he has a family and the means to provide an abundant Christmas, and that's what he intends to do. But his husband, Daniel, grew up with everything. For Daniel, Christmas isn't about receiving gifts, but the opportunity to help others. With his son in the hospital recovering from a tonsillectomy, Daniel knows just who he wants to help this year. Both Daniel and Richard make plans for their family Christmas assuming the other is on board, leaving their holiday dangling on the precipice of disaster—unless they can remember that family, love, and the holidays mean compromising to give each other what they need.

Leseprobe

Table of Contents

Blurb

Dedication

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Epilogue

Fall in love with the men of Longboat Key

About Andrew Grey

By Andrew Grey

Visit Dreamspinner Press

Copyright

Bad to Be Merry

by Andrew Grey

Former mobster Richard Marsden grew up scrounging on the streets of Detroit. This Christmas, for the first time, he has a family and the means to provide an abundant Christmas, and that’s what he intends to do.

But his husband, Daniel, grew up with everything. For Daniel, Christmas isn’t about receiving gifts, but the opportunity to help others. With his son in the hospital recovering from a tonsillectomy, Daniel knows just who he wants to help this year.

Both Daniel and Richard make plans for their family Christmas assuming the other is on board, leaving their holiday dangling on the precipice of disaster—unless they can remember that family, love, and the holidays mean compromising to give each other what they need.

To my family, with all my wishes for a merry Christmas.

Chapter 1

DANIEL CALMED his nerves as he walked down the sanitizer-smelling hallway toward Coby’s room. He hated hospitals, but then, didn’t everyone? Especially when your child was having an operation.

He had waited outside the OR, pacing, while Coby had his tonsils removed yesterday. Yeah, he knew it was a routine procedure and all, but this was his child, and Daniel still worried. The doctors had asked to keep him overnight because of a slight issue during the surgery. He’d stayed in the room with Coby and had snuck out while he was asleep to get some morning coffee.

As Daniel approached, Dr. Tyler Saint—yeah, that was his real name—came out of Coby’s room. “He’s doing just fine. You can take him home as soon as the paperwork is done.”

“Thank you.” Daniel’s heart finally slowed to something toward normal. “I know I’ve been stupid, worrying and everything, but….” He breathed a sigh of relief. His husband, Richard, had comforted him before leaving for work, and had warned Daniel not to google all the things that could go wrong so he wouldn’t just worry about them.

“Every parent worries,” Tyler said gently. “Did you think I was going to let anything happen to Coby?” There was that reassuring smile. “He’s going to need about a week to recover. Get him cold things. It’s going to help, but nothing with seeds or anything. Smooth foods so his throat can heal.”

“I looked it up and have plenty of things in the house,” Daniel said, his hands stilling. “I appreciate your help so much.” He had been working with the doctor on a fundraising website for the pediatric unit of the hospital for the past few months, and they had gotten it up and running a week or so ago. When Coby’s recurring sore throat had grown even worse than usual, he had called Tyler, who had come right down to help and gotten Coby scheduled for a tonsillectomy right away because of a stubborn infection.

“And we appreciate yours,” he said with a smile. “There are so many things we need to do, and what you did for us, without charging, will make a huge difference.” He paused for a moment. “Go on in and see Coby. The paperwork will take an hour. I’ll send in a little ice cream that he can have.” He smiled and hurried down the hall as Daniel went the other way, anxious to see his son.

“Daddy,” Coby whispered, his eyes half-lidded and a little teary. “It hurts.”

Daniel sat next to the bed and held his hand. “It will be okay. Dr. Tyler is getting you some ice cream, and then we’re going to take you home.” That was all he wanted at the moment. “Okay?”

Coby nodded, his hair messy and a little of it stuck to his forehead. Daniel continued holding his hand as Coby nodded off—probably some pain medication working its magic, which was a relief. No parent ever wanted to see their child hurting.

Daniel tucked Coby’s hand under the blanket in the chilly room and stood, stretching. He wandered out of the room, peering up and down the brightly painted hallways. It was cheery enough, especially for a hospital, but a pall of sorts still hung over the place.

He peered back into the room and then took a few steps, just looking at the painted trees and animals on the walls, a Christmas tree twinkling brightly in the corner. But when he turned, he found himself looking into a room where a girl sat up alone in bed, a few wisps of hair on her otherwise bald head. She spoke quietly, talking to her doll. But what struck Daniel was how empty the room was and how alone she seemed.

Daniel swallowed and wondered what the story was—not that it was any of his business.

“Morning,” Nurse Angie said as she passed.

Daniel smiled and turned back down the hall. Still, he couldn’t help looking at the little girl once more before heading back to Coby’s room.

“That’s Caroline,” Angie said. “Did you say hello? She would have loved it.” Daniel shrugged. He wasn’t sure if he should have or not. “She doesn’t have anyone other than a social worker who comes in every few days. They’re working to find a foster home for her.” Angie held her charts in front of her like a protective shield. “So many kids come in here with no one, and Christmas is coming. We do what we can, but….” She swallowed and turned away, heading toward the desk, walking quickly as if she were trying to get away from her own thoughts.

Daniel returned to Coby’s room, sat down, and took his hand once more. Coby woke, and Daniel smiled and gave him a few chips of ice to suck on. He could tell Coby was in pain by Coby’s wince each time he swallowed, and soon the ice cream came on a small tray, and Daniel fed his little boy. This simple process took him back to when Coby was a baby. Time flew by sometimes, and children grew up so quickly.

Coby ate just a little of the ice cream, and then Daniel helped him up and held his clothes so Coby could dress. A nurse came in with the paperwork, and he signed everything.

“Can we go home now?” Coby whispered.

“Yes. Let’s go home. Joshie has been asking how you are, and Papa has been really worried. Everyone will be happy to see you.” Daniel and Coby had a large family of sorts. There was Daniel’s husband, Richard, as well as Richard’s “brothers,” Terrance and Gerome, their partners, Ashton and Tucker, and Cheryl and her son, Joshie. Their makeshift family wasn’t related by blood but by the heart and a complicated history.

“Good. Can we play LEGOs?” Coby asked.

“Maybe after a while.” A man came in with a wheelchair, and Daniel helped Coby into it. They left the room and headed out of the hospital. Daniel couldn’t help glancing into Caroline’s room, sharing a smile with the little girl before continuing on.

“IS COBY sleeping?” Richard asked as he leaned over Daniel’s chair, getting closer.

Daniel slipped his arms around Richard’s neck and tugged him down. “Yes. But go in and say goodbye before you go to work anyway.” He kissed him and hugged him tightly. They had been together a few years now, and it never ceased to surprise him just how this former mobster had changed for the better… and enriched Daniel and Coby’s lives. There had been struggles and outside threats, but so far they had met them all together, and each triumph made their relationship and those of their family stronger. It took a great deal of strength and courage to change, and Richard had both in abundance.

“I will.” He leaned closer. “I missed you last night.”

“Me too.” He rested his head on Richard’s shoulder, closing his eyes, breathing in the heady scent of his lover. Desire rose within him, and he wondered if he could coax Richard to their room. “Maybe we could make up for it.” He smiled, and Richard groaned.